❛The hospitality sector is made up almost entirely of migrants, and there is a high turnover because of the terrible pay and working conditions. We travel long distances to work in the city centre, and when we get home we’re too tired to do anything. We’re not machines, but all we do is work and rest. Many hospitality workers have physical problems – bad backs, aches and pains. They take painkillers to get them through their shifts, or turn to alcohol to unwind and sleep, or drink lots of energy drinks to get them through the day.
Migrants will put up with a lot because of what they’ve left behind. What they are experiencing now may be luxury compared to the environment of recession or poverty or repression that they come from – and employers know that. They say: “Put up or get out” because they know there are lots of others available to replace them.
